How to Pray (Even Sing) Our Laments
Read: Psalm 13
13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
This Psalm teaches us how to pray and even sing our laments to God. God inspired David to write this Psalm to reveal both His desire for us to come to him honestly with our questions and sorrows and the way in which we anchor ourselves to His immovable, steadfast love. Take a moment to reflect on these questions.
On Asking “How Long?”
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Psalm 13:1-2
Reflection: In what area of your life right now do you feel like God is silent or distant? How can you give yourself permission to honestly express that frustration to Him rather than hiding it?
On Praying Through the Darkness
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death… (Psalm 13:3-4)
Reflection: When mental exhaustion or difficult circumstances threaten to “dim the light in your eyes,” what specific request do you need to boldly ask God to clarify or restore for you today?
On Choosing to Trust
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:5-6
Reflection: What past evidence of God’s goodness or “unfailing love” can you intentionally recall right now to anchor your heart, even if your current circumstances haven’t changed yet?
